The wards were held by rogue DA councillors, Trever Louw and Neville Higgins

Port Elizabeth - After an embarrassing defeat by the African National Congress (ANC) in the 2019 Eastern Cape Provincial Elections last week, the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday got some consolation after it retained two wards in Wednesday's Nelson Mandela Bay by-elections.

"Georgina Faldtman, the DA’s candidate in Ward 37, also won through and obtained 55.4% of the votes cast."

Bhanga said that this endorsement from the voters proves that the DA remains on track to return to government in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The DA, which won the 2016 Local Government Elections - albeit, without a clear majority, and its coalition partners were running the Bay until August of last year when unexpected political manuevaring, saw the ANC and its partners return to power.

"Under the ANC/EFF/UDM coalition of corruption service delivery in the City, and especially the Northern Areas, has come to a virtual standstill," Bhanga said.

"The residents of this City have suffered long enough under the ANC/EFF/UDM coalition of corruption and we are confident that a DA-led government will shortly return to power in Nelson Mandela Bay."

'We lost, but gained two voting stations' - ANC

Meanwhile, the ANC in the Bay's Andile Lungisa said that while it loast in the by-elections, it had made a "good showing".

Bi-elections ward 35 & 37 Nelson Mandela Metro we lost but we won two voting stations better showing by ANC. Salute to our volunteers who worked so hard under hostile environment. Let us go and sleep comrades umzamo omhle ziwuzamile.

Responding to the 2018/2019 annual Crime Statics released by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, on Thursday - which also painted a bleak picture about safety in the Eastern Cape province, Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, said there...